Web 2.0

The web used to be a barren wasteland in which you could buy 37 varieties of cheese grater and view every webpage in full geocities glory(http://wonder-tonic.com/geocitiesizer/ ). Other than that there wasn't much online that you couldn't get offline. There were online encyclopedias but those were just electronic versions of what you could get at the library.

As the web grew we started gaining advanced tools that were not available before. Online encyclopedias evolved into Wikipedia which sacrifices elements of reliability for open access. I use Wikipedia more than encyclopedias now because I check the reliability of the information after I find it. The upsurge in available information is a huge resource for students. Although I do not use twitter I recognize the significance of twitter, facebook and social networking in general. It has allowed us to connect in ways that were never possible before. I think students can use these tools to collaborate.

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I think copyright laws are some of the most complicated laws that we have to deal with as educators. These laws have good intentions but can seem to contradict themselves in the allowances the do and do not give us. By educating ourselves and practicing these laws we will not only protect ourselves and our district but will also set a good example for our students. I think setting a good example is one of the most important things we can do as an educator. For some of our students, we will be the only source of morality in their life. Regardless if we are to be trusted sources of information, we need to show that we have a strong moral compass. In a world where it is all too easy to download a song or even a full length movie, it no longer take a gun and ski mask to steal. It can be done from the comfort of your own home. It is easy, fast and nearly anonymous. The threat of prosecution can no longer be the deterrent for committing such crimes. The deterrent must come from within.

I personally learned quite a bit about how much you are allowed to use as a student. I didn't realize that fair use changed depending on if you are a student and using the copyrighted material for educational purposes. I also learned that you are allowed a substantial amount of leeway as an educator with what you can and cannot use. I think the best thing to do is familiarize yourself as much as possible and follow the "better safe than sorry" rule. If you are not sure if you can use it, find out!

Blog Post 1.0

1. Introduction

My name is Michael Steiner. I am married with two wonderful step-girls. I have been working with children since high school and have never really considered any career that didn't involve children. My ultimate aspiration is to own a preschool with my wife but that is way down the line. I am currently a Computer Teacher in Prosper. I teach kids from Pre-K through 4th Grade. I am a self-defined nerd and am proud of it. Because of my epic nerdness, I have a strong background in technology and try to stay on top of the latest and greatest.

2. My Vision for Technology in the Classroom

Technology in the classroom is not just important but it is imperative. Kids today are growing up in a very different world than any of us did. We may have had computers but they were not integrated into our lives the way they have been for students today. To not use every technological tool available and appropriate is doing our kids a disservice. However, this does not mean that having a Galaxy Tab for every student will mean perfect STAAR scores. As educators, it is our responsibility to not only know how to utilize this technology but also know how to appropriately and effectively use it for classroom instruction.

3. Goals for Course

By the end of this course I want to have built upon my previous knowledge and build more effective strategies for integrating and utilizing technology in my classroom.